The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-12-24
souRsoM AND srAlwARr.

Grabbers Hate Honest Voters.
Missouri Democrats are not likely to
trouble themselves to be offended at the
charges of "Bourbonism" preferred
against them by a Republican organ
printed in this city. They do not hold
it the fault of cur that he Is currish.
and when he snarls at his betters 1t
need not provoke them beyond smile.
If there ever was any reproach in
"Bourbonism, the application Of the
epithet to such honest and sturdy Dem.
ocrats as those of this State has Ne
moved it and made it title of honor.
Missouri is full of Bourbon Democrats.
They have made it great Statei filed
it with school-houses and churches,
driven out ignorance; checked intoler-
ance; subdued Republicanism.
One characteristic of the Democrat
is his ability not to steal himself rich
when he has the opportunity. This
brings him into great contempt with
Republicans who expect to steal, who
have already stolen. or who are enjoy
ing the usufruct of the theft of others.
In the days of the French monarchy,
when breaking the Decalogue was q
necessity of fashion. there was
yet one reservation. there re-
manned yet one crime, unpardoh-
able in the eyes Of men. 1t was
said then that "a gentleman never
steals" But Stalwart Republicanism
has changed all that. The pudgy fin-
gers of the Stalwart which have
clutched money won ut the expense Of
a felon's stripes, WELD . pen which
glorifies the successful thief and makes
honesty a mark Of weak-mindedness.
There have been Stalwart Republicans
nota few in Missouri, and the State is
unfortunately not yet free from them,
though several left it after serving
their sentences. The belief that It il q
mark of superior intelligence to steal
from the Government has always been
one of the Stalwart's most prominent
characteristics. but a. he has not
always been able to show himself SUI
perior to the logged Bourbonism
which insists that thieves must be pun
ished, it is natural that he should not
only despise the Bourbon. but hate him
heartily. This hate and contempt il
shared by the two great classes Of
Stalwarts-those who have stolen al
ready and those who expect to steal
when they get the opportunity. In the
city Stalwart, who has embraced his
opportunities, it makes itself apparent
in labored sneers. Among the zone
gallused" Stalwarts of the swamps and
hills, who have only such poor oppor-
tunity as is afforded by the chance to
squat ON land which does not be-
long to them. it shows itself in Bald
knob leagues which assault Bourbonism
with buckshot. Nevertheless, Bourbon
Democracy holds the State, and the
State thrives as the doors of the peni-
tentiary close on one Stalwart after
another.
Though forced to maintain . peni-
Tertiary for knayes, the Bourbon Dem
ocrat believes in liberty for all who are
fit for it. His chief aim II to remain
free himself and to leave others ~ free
as he is. When stalwart Republican
ism. with no conscience Of its own, at
tempts to take charge Of the con-
sciences of others, 1t is Bourbonism
that thwarts it. When the Republican
stalwart undertakes to subvert the free
institutions of the Bourbons Of cent
ury ago, it is the Bourbon Of to-day
who foils him. When the stalwart
clamors for military dictatorship to
shield knaves from the punishment Of
knavery. it is the Bourbon sentiment
of the country which crushes him. Il
is the Bourbon who meets him at every
turn, and for all his cunning. for all his
thousand shifts, the Bourbon who beats
him at every turn. This enrages him
the more because he can not under
stand 1t. feeling himself, a. he does,
immeasurably superior to all that has
not the characteristics of involution and
duplicity. 1t is useless to try to ex-
plain it to him, or to attempt to make
him see that there are ways higher and
nobler than his ways He counts
nothing worth that does not pay, and
having no other standard than his own
he can apply no other. To present
others to him is idle, for he returns to
his Stalwartism as the dog returns to
his vomit The country will never be
free from him, for while the world
lasts there will be . supply of knaves
and tricksters to keep Stalwartism
alive. And it is comforting belief
that while the Stalwart is In the world
the Bourbon will also remain to put
him to confusion.
When every thing in Rome was for
sale there remained the Bourbon
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